Refinishing purchase??

[Malkovich]

Have you ever bought a gun that is a little worse for the wear with the intention of having it refinished from the get go?
I'm bidding on one right now that at least looks like it is in good enough shape that a refinish would bring it back to its former glory. It has little rust spots all over
but they seem pretty light and it does not look like it is heavily pitted.
If I can get this one for the right price, I think it's something I would like to pursue.

I'm thinking of parting with these 2 1980's S&W relics, what do you guys think the market bears for them ?

 

[Malkovich]

Yes. Pristine is great, but I don't mind a refinish or one with a little ding and missing blue and some "character" either.
I'll take a rust bucket, too.
They all have their history.

 

[DWalt]

I can think of no circumstance under which I would send a gun off to someplace to have it refinished. To me it represents a total waste of good money with nothing to show for it beyond an improved cosmetic appearance with no commensurate increase in value or performance. On the other hand I have refinished many of my otherwise mediocre guns myself because I had access to bluing resources and know how to do it. But it's your gun and your money, not mine. To me, bead blasting followed by a hot blue dip is more than adequate to make a sweaty old gun look great again with minimal effort.

 

[Revelation]

I bought a Colt model 1903 made in 1924 that had been stored in a sock drawer for a couple of decades. One side was pristine, but the other side had seen some moisture and the finish was ruined. I knew the collector value was gone but it was in great shooting condition.

I sent it off to be bead blasted and Parkerized and it's now one of my favorite shooters. In .32 ACP, my wife and grandkids love shooting it and it looks nice too.

View attachment 778959

Beauty!

 

[2152hq]

It depends on the particular gun as well as what you are striving for.

To just buy a beater and figure to 'refinish' it, resell and make some money,,most times you won't if you paid someone else to do the work.

If you do the work yourself and do a great job, yes there can be a profit in there. You often have to dismiss your hourly rate when done as it won't reflect what the kids at Micky's are getting in many cases.

Refinish work can be a great hobby. It can be a full time job.
The latter should lean towards restoration quality work however if you want to draw customers willing to pay what you are worth in labor.

Many in the fulltime line end up specializing in a few areas in house and the rest gets sent out to others that specialize in those needs.

But if like to do the work and see it as fun & fulfilling use of time, then go to it.
Not everyone looks at hand polishing a complete S&W H/E to bring it back to it's old sharp edged, flat surfaced, sharp lettered self as something to look forward to.
But we're out there.

...and not every gun needs to be brought back to a 100%'r either.
Many only need proper mechanical repairs and touch ups to finish, holes filled, stuff like that.
But that's real restoration work and not many do that now.
It's easier to be a parts changer, refinish everything and call it a full restoration.

 

[KenTheHunter]

While in the NYPD someone gave me a retired coppers heavy barrel S&W 10. Gun was solid but had 20 years of holster wear. Lots of white metal showing. I had the gun refinished and am embarrassed to say as I had this done over forty years ago I don't recall the process. Not Cerakote, that I remember, but a more durable robust finish. Anyway, handgun is solid, locks up like a vault, good shooter. Oh, also replaced the grips as well.

Rich

View attachment 779123

 

[KenTheHunter]

While in the NYPD someone gave me a retired coppers heavy barrel S&W 10. Gun was solid but had 20 years of holster wear. Lots of white metal showing. I had the gun refinished and am embarrassed to say as I had this done over forty years ago I don't recall the process. Not Cerakote, that I remember, but a more durable robust finish. Anyway, handgun is solid, locks up like a vault, good shooter. Oh, also replaced the grips as well.

Rich

View attachment 779123

If you want to sell is one thing, but otherwise, shoot the hell out of it

 

[Model29-26.5]

It depends on the particular gun as well as what you are striving for.

To just buy a beater and figure to 'refinish' it, resell and make some money,,most times you won't if you paid someone else to do the work.

If you do the work yourself and do a great job, yes there can be a profit in there. You often have to dismiss your hourly rate when done as it won't reflect what the kids at Micky's are getting in many cases.

Refinish work can be a great hobby. It can be a full time job.
The latter should lean towards restoration quality work however if you want to draw customers willing to pay what you are worth in labor.

Many in the fulltime line end up specializing in a few areas in house and the rest gets sent out to others that specialize in those needs.

But if like to do the work and see it as fun & fulfilling use of time, then go to it.
Not everyone looks at hand polishing a complete S&W H/E to bring it back to it's old sharp edged, flat surfaced, sharp lettered self as something to look forward to.
But we're out there.

...and not every gun needs to be brought back to a 100%'r either.
Many only need proper mechanical repairs and touch ups to finish, holes filled, stuff like that.
But that's real restoration work and not many do that now.
It's easier to be a parts changer, refinish everything and call it a full restoration.

I think I'll give it a go myself and get plenty of advice and pointers.
I can take it to Scotty's to be reblued.
I'm sure he'd be able to give me some pointers on polishing.
The idea of bringing it back to near its former glory appeals.
It's not about the money.. well kind of. It's about getting one cheap, and then bringing it back to what looks like top-notch, even though I know it isn't, but it would be a worthwhile project for me

 

[jtixii]

If you can get it for the right price including a refinish, I'm in the why not camp. BTW, not every S&W fan is a collector.

If you have one, you're a collector. You just may not know it yet. It might be a small one, but we all start somewhere.

 

[Shotguncoach]

...or vice versa!

You're exactly right - it's a great way to screw things up in a hurry. Knowing what not to attempt at your current skill level is important.

On the other hand, trying and screwing up is the only way to learn. Book learning is great but the real learning starts when you pick up the tools. That's why you don't start with a Registered Magnum. You start with a $79 evidence gun and have fun. If you completely screw it up you're out the cost of dinner for two.

 

[bananaman]

I have not purchased any handgun that I thought needed refinishing. Just did not want the extra expense. Have bought some with challenged finishes (minor issues) that I improved on. Just the way I am. Bob

 

[Crazywader]

Hi guys, I read here quite a bit but hardly ever post. I have an example of buying one with the refinishing likely costing more than the total value. This 14-4 8" was missing much of the finish. Around 2013, I sent it to S&W with a request to color case harden the hammer and trigger, go over all of the internals, and refinish in a high-gloss blue. I only paid $250 for the gun but I think I was in the high $300's for the work at S&W. I'd have to dig out the receipt to get an exact figure. Anyway, here it is.
View attachment 779222View attachment 779223

That looks amazing! You must be tickled with it!
How close does the new high-gloss blue compare to an original finish on a similar year and model?
Do you have a 'before' picture you could add for comparison?
Presumably, the factory marked the gun indicating they'd reworked it?
Wow! Just beautiful!

 

[03hemi]

Absolutely, I bought one specifically for that reason to make it one of my carry guns.
Before, completely stock

After, completely rebuilt inside and out.

 

[45LC]

Make that dinner for one...